Waking up to a glassy ocean I had no choice. Today I would paddle the Atlantic.

Pulling my ocean kayak down the stairs at the Tuckaway Shores was easy, then about a 60 yard drag along the sand to the water. I put on my flotation vest and pushed off into the cool green water. The ocean didn’t have the bait fish nor the feeding frenzy of a few days ago. The shore break had mellowed as well.

I paddled out. The massive rolling swells floated beneath me like a huge whale, ready to raise its head and devoir me. But it didn’t, it just wanted to let me know who was in charge. When kayaking in an ocean, with no islands or ships or birds around you, it is an awesome experience

. Just you and your little boat and that massive sea. You are just a tiny piece of the unimaginable puzzle.

I paddled like a mad man. Digging into the soft water and gliding over it. I paddled till my back, abs, and shoulders burned, then rested, sweating, breathing, then attacking again. I wasn’t headed in any direction, just going. Being part of it. Feeling my place.

As one spends several days at the ocean, I mean when your room is right on the ocean, you see the different personalities it has. There is a rhythm to its beauty. Sometimes swells develop for just an hour or two where great surfing arises then dissipates just as fast. Lines of bait fish swim by in the millions and the birds and fish and mammals have a feast, then it drifts away. Storms come, winds change, tides, heat… it all effects the ocean. And the ocean affects us. Symbiotic.

I would say there is a certain intelligence to the ocean. It is what sustains us. It pulls us toward it and speaks to us. Like the great mountains, or rivers, or caverns, we as humans are drawn to the magnificent forces of nature. To not get out into the nature, only makes us less human

Take off your shoes, smell the ocean air, let the sand squish between your toes, have the salty foam wash over them. Observe the birds scamper along the shore, see the fish swim in with the waves, eye the rain clouds flow over the mountain tops and feel the cold slap of rain in the kisser. Get in a kayak or sailboat or canoe. Use the power in your body or the power of the wind to push you along. Let your senses come alive. Open your mind to what your place in this world is. How special we are, yet so insignificant.

Become aware what we put in our bodies and what we put on our bodies. Eat fruits, vegetables and fish, all caught and grown in your town. Beans and rice and hot sauce. Dress according to the weather and for comfort. Become one with the tides, temperature, storms. The soul wants to heal you from within. No need for anyone to tell you how to do it. We are smarter than most want us to believe.

The answers do not lie in fancy buildings, books, brilliant philosophizers, clubs, religious institutions, trusted friends…..The answers lie within ourselves. Go to nature, live with nature, and nature will guide you.

. Live exactly how you want and only have those that support your lifestyle in your life. Everyone and everything else are expendable. Keep those that have held you back or made you miserable in a trunk and store it in the attic. Open it occasionally and pull out a few favorites. See if it fits. If not put it back, check again later.

Cruising through downtown Melbourne on Saturday night I noticed people dressed as Zombies. What the hell. It was some sort of Zombie walk. I filmed one girl that really creeped me out.

I wandered through the downtown scene. Matt’s Casbah, The Foo Bar, Off The Tracks. It was a nice mix of country, blues, and laid back. What a great downtown, with all the small businesses like the Russia House, a store just for flip flops, curiosity shops, cigar stores, and all kinds of restaurants, ice cream and pizza stores, Indian River Soap, book stores etc. Definitely a nice way to spend the day.

I went by my first neighborhood I lived in Melbourne when I first moved here, 24 years ago. There was a Burger King on the Eau Gallie River that was now a privately owned little called The Eau Gallie River Crab House. I met with The owner, Robin. An enthusiastic proprietor who works the front of the house while her husband runs the kitchen. The place had charm and the seafood looked great. Got a nice photo of their seafood platter and a nice video of Robin.

Wandering through Indialantic, I checked out a shop with a sign that read Discount Nutrition Center

. It turned out to be much more. Two sweet and vibrant girls were running a new, health oriented shop called Groovy Smoothie and upstairs was a just opened gym call “Top of the World Gym.” Yes you can do yoga, MMA, weights and cardio here, while watching the ocean. What a great little place.

Finished the day by driving along the Indian River, heading south through Grant and Sebastian in Indian River County. Realized there were dozens of little islands in the Indian River. Some had a little community of upper class homes in them. Who would want to live on a secluded island with neighbors.?

Took SR 510 over to the Islands of North Indian River County and into South Brevard County. Saw a sign for a place called the ELC or Environmental Learning Center. What a great little place and it was free. The lady there told me that all the islands in the river were man-man caused by dredging done years ago by the Army Corps of Engineers. Wonder what forced them to dredge up such beauty? At least those islands came out of it. They are spectacular. Spend a day on one of them.

Writing while watching a nice swell roll in and crash on the shore.

Winding down my beach condo stay. Kaley, my daughter, is coming in a few minutes. What could be better than that?